It wasn’t like this was the first time she’d seen him dressed for work, but it still felt different. When she thought of him, she thought of the Walker she’d met in school back when they’d been equals. The billionaire side of him had always just seemed…extra. Impressive but almost unimportant. It didn’t touch the man she’d spent years growing up with.
But now, seeing him dressed in wealth standing in his sprawling home put her off balance.
“What?” he demanded, pinning her with a gaze that was utterly Walker, no matter what his clothing.
“Nothing,” she said, moving closer. “Your collar is twisted.”
Propping the baby on a hip, she reached up to straighten his shirt, smoothing a hand over his shoulder when it was righted.
“There,” she said, looking up at him. “All better.”
Fire leapt into his gaze for one burning moment as he stared at her.
“Go take over the world,” she said as she stepped back.
He didn’t move, seeming frozen in place.
“Clara…”
“Your team is waiting.”
With a sigh, he ran a hand down his face. “I’ll be as fast as I can.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Forever, it seems.
Swallowing hard, she and Hunter watched him walk from the home. And she couldn’t help feeling like she was being left behind in more ways than one.
…
As soon as he stepped foot in the office, Andrew was waiting for him, ready to mob him with a coffee peace offering and an armful of files.
“We’ve got a half hour to get you prepped,” Andrew said.
“This is my deal. I’m the one who prepped you.”
“We got their contract revisions this morning, and you should take a look at their demands. They’re coming in hot but will likely settle once we go through the motions for a while.”
Walker sipped the coffee as they strode across the top floor of his building to his office. Inside, a man was already seated at his wide mahogany desk scattered with papers.
“Walker,” he said, rising to his feet.
“Ron.” Shaking the hand of his second in command, he waved him off when Ron tried to move out of the seat he normally occupied. “I’m only here for a few hours. Keep the desk.”
Ron grinned. “How’s fatherhood going?”
“Hunter’s still breathing so I’m counting it a moral victory.”
“I hear you convinced that tasty friend of yours to move in with you to help out. How the hell did you manage that?”
“I asked her.”
Ron laughed. “Marry that woman, you idiot.”
He rolled his eyes. “Let’s get this deal inked, and we can worry about my love life later.”
“There’s the man I know. It’s always business first with you.”
The words unsettled him but he kept his expression blank. “I want updated projections in my hand in five minutes, Andrew.”
“Right away.” His assistant raced from the room.
“He didn’t need to drag you in,” Ron said as he settled back into the CEO’s chair.
“It won’t take long. A few baby-free hours will do me some good.”
“Jonesing for some adult contact?”
“Babies are cute but their conversation skills are pretty poor.”
“If only you lived with another person.”
He dropped into the chair opposite Ron. “We’ve been over this.”
“The legendary friendship that can’t be broken. Yeah, I’ve heard the story. But this woman also took up residence in your house with very little urging. What does that tell you?”
“That I have a remarkable friend.”
Ron sighed. “How can you be this smart and this dumb all at the same time?”
“Feeling pretty secure in that chair, aren’t you?”
Ron rolled his eyes. “You couldn’t function without me. Who else can keep the company on track while you disappear into the math?”
“True. Lucky you.”
“Then tell me the truth. A baby on your doorstep. How the hell are you coping?”
“I’m not going to lie and say it’s been easy.”
“Is there no one else you can…” Ron waved his hand.
“Cast my child off to?”
His VP shrugged.
“No,” Walker said. “That’s not an option.”
“Can’t blame me for asking.”
“Can’t I?”
“My point is, you never asked for any of this. You have options if you need them. Wealth does come with some perks.”
“Like buying a family to raise my only child?”
Ron held up his hands in peace. “I’m just trying to make sure you know your options.”